Analysis
Tired after a long shift – but driving home anyway?
What our survey reveals about the risks faced by nurses, particularly after night shifts

What our survey reveals about the risks faced by nurses, particularly after night shifts
- A quarter of respondents to a Nursing Standard survey say they have had an accident or near-miss after a tiring shift
- While many nurses say they prefer 12-hour shifts, limited access to rest areas and breaks contribute to safety concerns
- Naps during breaks are being seens as a ‘safety intervention’ at some trusts
As many as one in four nurses have had a car accident or near-miss when driving home tired after a shift, a Nursing Standard survey suggests.
Nurses described falling asleep at the wheel during the journey, with one revealing: ‘I crashed into a tree and rolled my car on [the] way home from a night
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